This story is a slightly altered universe. There are 3 things that are different.
1) JJ never cared what the team thought, she and Will became an item and he moved up to DC for her.
2) They never had kids
3) Everything else did happen
4) This takes place in the middle of S16/CME 1. The difference is there is no Voit or Bailey. (If that doesn't make sense to you, that is okay and also you should either buy the Season on DVD and watch it, or get yourself some heavy binge time with Paramount + to watch it, because it's FABULOUS!)
Here are the important parts you need to know for this story:
1) I am obsessed with the people who use various sexual kinks for healing purposes. I don't understand it at all and yet I am absolutely fascinated by it, because usually those people were abused by that same kink in the past.
2) I have MASSIVE amounts of respect for the writers and creators of this show, and I do not mean them any disrespect by writing this. If for some very odd reason one of them stumbles across this, know that I am just enjoying the world you created and I thank you for doing so.
3) I'm not good at writing, so my grammar and spelling are sometimes VERY off. I've edited this story a gazillion times so far, changed the plot at least 3 times and I am still finding mistakes. Please just roll with it as best you can.
4) This is still a work in progress and I have several key life events coming up. There will be delays in updating.
5) Thank you for reading and if you feel so inclinded to leave a review, please do so. I greatly hope you are all enjoying the story, even with delays.
6) You've reached the final chapter folks! I hope you've enjoyed the story. Yes there are many things left unexplored. I had to give myself some space to do so.
7) If nothing else, I'm proud I managed to somehow write a small story. Thank you for reading and reviewing if you so choose!
Tara left the two families for a few minutes and went to the room that had the one way mirror. She had to walk through all the parts, so that she didn't accidentally send the girls into another panic attack. After a bit, she realized it was too much and she needed extra help. She went down to Emily's office, knocked on the door and waited. "I thought Garcia was with you?"
"We finished, she went to the round room to be with the Duncans and I imagine Alvez and Rossi are there too," Emily said. "Need help?"
"I may actually need a few bodies," Tara said and with that she went to the round room. "Can I have some help please?" she smiled at them all.
"Everyone?" Dave asked.
"Yes, extra eyes are not a bad thing in this case," she said thoughtfully and they all went into the room that eventually would contain Hollis Matten and four others for the line up.
"Agent Lewis, will you explain to us what will happen please?" Bill asked.
"Yes, of course. It's one of the reasons you're all here. I need you to help me identify any weak points I might miss," she said and while that didn't quite make sense to him, he went with it, because he was very aware of how competent and protective this team was. "Now, this is our line up room," she said Katherine looked around the room, noting the numbers against the wall and the mirror on the opposite side.
"I see my reflection, but that's the special mirror where they can see in, but I can't see out, correct?" Katherine asked.
"That is correct. I will need a way to explain that to Mackenzie and Hazel. The thought process is, I'l bring them in here first, show them this room, and then show them the space where they will be identifying him from. I want to build up the trust they have with us now, before asking them to do this very intimidating thing," she explained. "Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, this is where I need your help specifically. You know Mackenzie better than I do. If there is anything in here that might further startle or concern her, please let me know," Tara said and they both nodded and set to looking around.
Bill thought for a few moments and then spoke kindly. "Kat, she's good with doorways now right?" he questioned and Katherine nodded.
"She only panics if she doesn't know where someone went," Katherine offered and he nodded.
"Yes, that's right," he said. "How will these two doors work?" he asked, noting they'd come in the one door, but there was the second door on the far end of the room.
"That door is where all the men will come in and we'll have them line up under the numbers," Dave offered and they both nodded.
"This looks very simple," Katherine said.
"Good. Then let's move on to the other side of that mirror, which is where they will make the identification from," Tara said and they walked to the other side of the mirror. It was a smaller, room they were in now, but the large window was now looking at the wall of numbers where the men would be lined up. "We would have the girls here so they could look out and make identifications for us," Tara offered.
"Mrs. Duncan, you look concerned," Luke said gently.
"I think I'm more overwhelmed, as this is a lot of information and being aware of how distressed they already are, I am wondering if there's a way to give them all this information differently," she said honestly.
"Wyatt can run this like a game with her. She's upset enough and clingy enough that the games usually work," Bill offered.
"Game?" Luke asked kindly.
"Wyatt is a very good Master and during session with clients he likes to review."
"Let's be discreet please my love," Katherine interrupted for a moment. "I don't think the agents need every detail of how Wyatt or you run your sessions with clients," she offered kindly.
"She right. Okay, as a master, there are certain things that you need to be sure the pet in question remembers as often as possible. It's how they stay safe. He runs it like a game. Correct answers are reward in what we'll call an adult manner and incorrect answer are 'punished' so to speak. With Kenzie, he still runs the game, but correct answers earn her kisses to her temple with a lot of praise and incorrect answers earn her the same kiss with a repeated and sometimes more detailed question," Bill said.
"Do you run the same games?" Luke pressed kindly.
"Almost, yes," he said.
"I think you should be with them then." Luke said. "As they are calming down, you can start the 'game' and make sure they are prepared. It appears that Hazel has picked up Mackenzie's behavior and copies her quite easily. She's figured out you're all safe people. You can start the game and the Wyatt can follow your lead," Luke told him.
"It also has to progress," Katherine offered. "Start it in the room they are in now, move it into that room with the numbers and then into this room where they are behind the glass," she added.
"This is perfect, let's go start that now," Tara said.
In the family room, the girls were calming down but also still clinging to the parental figure they trusted most and refusing to let go. JJ kept her focus on Mackenzie's back and noted that it was now rising and falling at an even pace. Hazel was in the same situation and so she pressed on very carefully. "Girls can I tell you a few things?" JJ asked them and Hazel nodded, while Mackenzie shifted so she could look more at JJ. "First I am so sorry that the traffic scared the two of you so much," she said.
"Caws is bad," Mackenzie pushed out and Hazel nodded her agreement. They both had the same fear when it came to being in a stopped car.
"Well I'm not going to ask either of you to get in a car until it's time to go home and home is a nice place to be right?" JJ asked and Mackenzie nodded but gripped Wyatt tighter.
"Mama, I go?" Hazel asked tearfully. She didn't have a home and she hadn't been to JJ and Will's house yet. She'd only been up in the safe room for the night, followed by the hotel.
"Yes Hazel, you come home with me," JJ smiled and cuddled Hazel close. Hazel leaned in and took a deep breath, happy to be in safe arms, in a safe building. She was finally starting to be able to truly relax and JJ waited a moment more before continuing. "So, who remembers why we came back to my place of work?" JJ asked kindly.
"See him," Mackenzie said.
"In a way, yes," JJ started and before she could continue, the rest of her team came lead Bill and Katherine back to the room. "We have friends," JJ smiled as Bill and Katherine came in and took a seat.
"Hazel, this is Mackenzie's Uncle Bill and Aunt Kat. We've shown them what you need to do, and they are going to help both of you to understand everything better. We're going to do this slowly. They are going to explain it all to you in here, and then we'll take you to see it. Nothing happens without your full understanding," Tara assured them and then she backed up a little bit, giving them all some space.
"Hi Hazel, it's nice to meet you," Bill smiled at her and took a seat across from her. Katherine went over to the little coloring area and picked up a crayon and some scrap paper. Drawings were usually very helpful.
"Hay-za," Mackenzie said softly, shifting a bit. "Is my Unca. Hims good," she said and Hazel nodded, shifting slightly so she could see everything a bit better, but still be with JJ.
"Do you two remember what you have to do while you're here?" Bill asked kindly.
"He'p Mama," Hazel said.
"Which one is your Mama?" Bill smiled at her and Hazel tapped JJ's arm that was wrapped around her waist.
"Mama. Daddy," she said pointing toward Will.
"I see. You are also correct. You two need to help Hazel's Mama put the bad guy away for a very long time, so he never hurts anyone again," Bill said and Katherine started to draw a photo as Bill talked to the girls about what was going to happen. "Kenze, do you want to tell Hazel, who this is?" he smiled pointing to his wife.
"Is Aunt Kat," she said and Hazel nodded, both of them watching her draw something out for them.
"Hazel, you only have to call me Aunt Kat, if you want to. Kat is fine for now," Katherine said finishing her drawing.
"What did you draw?" Bill asked her.
"The room we're going to be in, so they can have a better understanding. Do you girls want to come closer, so you can see better?" Kat pressed and JJ watched as Mackenzie got off Wyatt's lap and carefully made her way to Bill, snuggling in close, but watching the drawing intently. Hazel twitched, but didn't move and JJ spoke gently.
"Should we go sit next to Kat and see what she's drawn? Have her explain it to us better?" JJ asked and Hazel agreed, because JJ made it a we situation. She wasn't sending her away, she was going to be with her.
Once they were settled, Bill started the game and waited for Wyatt to pick up on what he was doing. "Okay girls, step one, why are we in this building today?" Bill started.
"He'p Mama," Hazel said.
"He'p Miss Emmy," Mackenzie said.
"Yes, you are both correct," Bill praised. "What are we helping them to do?"
"Fine him," Mackenzie said seriously and Hazel nodded her agreement.
"Good, now let's talk about step two," Katherine said and she drew focus to her drawing, showing the girls what the room would look like.
The knock on the door caught her off guard and she did her paperwork and she simply called come in, not bothering to look who was entering. "Agent Prentiss?" a voice asked and she looked up; her face immediately splitting into a wide grin.
"You know better than that, close the door, come here," she said and Jack did as asked and went over to meet her and she wrapped him in a very tight hug. "You have to stop growing, you are making me old!" she scolded him.
"Dad says that too," he laughed. "He also said to tell everyone hello," he told her.
She smiled and they had a quick exchange of pleasantries, before settling into business. "How much information do you have?" Emily asked.
"Just the bare minimum I think. Two girls were tortured and they are willing to make an identification," he said.
"That's less than bare minimum. Come with me," she said and she took him down the hall toward the tech cave where she knew Penelope was hanging out. She put a finger to her lips and he simply nodded. She knocked on the door, went inside once Penelope said it was good, and smiled. "Are you up for a visitor?" she asked before Penelope could turn around.
"Depends on who it is," she smiled turning in her chair and then she saw him. "Oh!" she exclaimed when she saw him and she stood up to give him a hug. She squeezed him tight and he returned the gesture. "To what do we owe this most delightful visit?"
"Guess who the lawyer for the girls identification his," Emily smiled.
"Good, we could use someone with skill. Put that bastard away for a very long time."
"That's much more colorful language than I'm used to from you," Jack smiled.
"I've grown and changed."
"Penelope does and says all kinds of things now," Emily teased.
"And she's only aware of about half of them."
"Did you do any of that stuff when Dad was around?"
"All of it," she grinned.
"I catch on a little faster to some of it," Emily said proudly.
"Ignore her," Penelope said and Emily made a show of pouting. "How is Dad?"
"He's good, enjoying retirement," Jack said with a smile. "He also took up cooking lessons and now he and Aunt Jessie are contemplating opening a bakery," he told them.
"We will be first in line to buy anything they make," Penelope said. "Now, why else did you come visit me?"
"He needs to be up to speed with this case, so I brought him to the lady with all the answers."
"Mmm, the office of supreme genius," she said.
"What does Spencer say when you call it that?" Jack smirked.
"Nothing, because he knows better," Penelope smiled.
"Please bring Mr. Brooks up to speed and I will go check on everyone else," Emily said.
"Mr. Brooks?" Penelope asked.
"It's safer. No one knows Mom's last name and they won't link me to Dad. It keeps me having a low profile," Jack said.
"Fair," Penelope said and then she sat down, offered Jack a seat, handed him a legal pad and a pen and began bringing him up to speed.
Emily went toward the family room and saw it was empty, so she sent out a text, quickly receiving word that everyone was at the identification room and moving through things carefully. She made her way over and smiled at everyone in the room. Will was holding Hazel, Victoria had Mackenzie, and everyone else was being very carefully directed by Wyatt and JJ. Seeing that she was free, Emily waved Tara over. "Hey, how's it going?" Emily asked.
"Good, really good actually," Tara said. "I may have to take lessons from Wyatt about how to run a game. They are both nervous, but they are doing very well, and the more he seems to review it with them, the more confident they are becoming," Tara smiled. "Is the attorney here?"
"He is, he's with Garcia getting caught up to speed. He's got very little information, so we need him to up to date before he meets them."
"So girls, this is how it works in this room. People line up against that wall and you'll choose who you think it is," Wyatt said. "Should we practice one more time?" Wyatt asked and they both nodded at him. "Okay, let's say our numbers one more time, to get our muscles warmed up. Hazel my friend, what number is Mister Luke by?"
"Fo," she told him.
"Very good, and Mackenzie, what number is Mister Dave under?"
"Fee," she said.
"What about Aunt Kat?" Wyatt pressed gently.
"Fi-vah," the girls said at the same time and Wyatt smiled.
"That was excellent ladies. I'm very proud of both of you," he praised them and they both smiled.
"Okay, who wants to fill me in on where we're at?" Emily asked and Mackenzie smiled and just started speaking.
"Miss Emmy," she said. "We gonna see da men in hewe, den we say who it was," she said looking toward Hazel.
"Mmm," Hazel nodded. "Is one, two, fee, fo, fi-vah," Hazel told her and Emily nodded.
"Very good and where are you making your identification from?" Emily asked.
"Dere," Haze said pointing to the mirror.
"Are you two ready to see how that mirror works?" JJ smiled at them and they both nodded at her. "Okay, let's go in the other room them. Everyone else stay in here, Wyatt please come with me," JJ said and she took Hazel into her arms, Wyatt took Mackenzie and the four of them went to the other side of the room with Emily following behind, ready to play liaison between the two rooms if needed.
"Now, do we remember Aunt Kat's drawing?" Wyatt asked and both girls nodded at him. "Very good, so what did we say about Aunt Kat's drawing?" he pressed and they both looked a little confused. "Let's review, will the men in that room be able to see you?" he asked.
"No," Hazel answered. "No sees us, no hear us," she said carefully and the worked her jaw a little bit, because it was starting to be a little sore.
"Very good Hazel," Wyatt said. "Do you agree Kenze?" Wyatt asked her gently.
"S'aired," Mackenzie answered.
"It's okay to be scared my love. That's why we are practicing," he assured her and she snuggled up tighter against him.
"Ladies, why don't I ask you questions and you'll see how this works a little better," JJ offered, fully understanding how Wyatt would have run this game, if he was very sure of the answers, which he was clearly not. They agreed and JJ smiled at them both. "Okay. Hazel where is Daddy?" JJ asked her and Emily's heart leapt into her throat for a minute. JJ had finally caved and was now using the same family terms Hazel was using. She would talk to her about that later, but it was nice to hear.
"Two," Hazel said.
"Good so Emily is going to pretend to be the lawyer and she's going to get Daddy to step forward, ready?" JJ asked. Emily waiting for a visual cue and then knocked twice on the glass and Will stepped forward a bit.
Luke silently counted to five in in his head and told Will to step back. "Okay baby, you're turn," Wyatt said.
"Ummm, Aunt Kat," she told him.
"Which number is Aunt Kat by?"
"Fo," she said softly.
"Good girl, but tell Miss Emily please," he said.
"Oh, Fo, p'ease," she said and Emily grinned and knocked four times on the glass.
This game was repeated several times, before the girls decided they'd had enough and Hazel looked at JJ. "Mama, no mo'e," she told her.
"All done?" JJ asked and she nodded. "Kenze? Do you think you and Hazel feel confident enough to do the real thing? Do you think we can bring in all the men, line them against the wall and you pick out the right one?"
"Daddy you s'ay?" Mackenzie asked Wyatt.
"I can stay with you baby, that's allowed, but this is a small room, so I don't think everyone can stay with you," he said.
"Mackenzie. I'm going to let you have two people with you, and the lawyer is going to be here too," Emily said.
"You knows da turn-ey?" Mackenzie pushed out carefully.
"I do. My whole team knows him. I'm going to introduce you and Hazel before we send you in here with him.
"Emmy," a soft voice said and Emily smiled. She was beginning to think she could get used to hearing that name from such soft innocent voices.
"Yes Hazel?"
"Aw duh-n," Hazel pouted at her.
"You and Mackenzie have been working very hard. Should we maybe get you all a bathroom break and a snack?" Emily offered and Hazel looked at JJ who just grinned at her.
"I think that's a great idea," JJ offered.
"Mama too?" Hazel asked.
"Yes, Mama too," JJ agreed and Emily grinned. It was nice to hear JJ almost cave. JJ and Will were making excellent parents for Hazel and it was nice to hear them sort of accept their new roles for the time being.
"Okay girls, you two can do this next part," Emily said and she waved them over toward the doorway. "This is the intercom. I will push and you two say break time," she encouraged them and then counted down from three.
Inside the room with the numbers, where everyone else was standing, they heard two little voice say Bake Tye, and everyone smiled before heading out of the room.
"This is a lot," Jack sighed.
"Well it is, and I would have provided any attorney with all this information. So you aren't getting a leg up, just because you know us," Penelope said.
"Well with this information, I know what I can bring to the judge for charges and we shouldn't have to have the girls testify, but I do need them to ID him," Jack said.
"We are going to help you with that. JJ has a great bond with Hazel. Mackenzie has her parents, and the entire team has managed to build a great trust with both of them."
"Well look at who the gentle leader is. I'm not surprised everyone has been able to establish a good rapport."
"Yeah, JJ's great."
"Penelope. You," Jack insisted.
"You are the most important person on this team. Always have been, always will be."
"You are a very kind boy," she said, "and yes, to me, you are still a boy. You're just a very tall one, playing dress up in your Dad's suit. I refuse to think of you as a grown man in any way," she said firmly.
"Yes Ma'am," he smiled and they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in!" Penelope called.
"Uncle Dave!" Jack beamed when he saw him and quickly rushed to give him a hug.
"Ugh! Jack," Dave smiled and grabbed the younger man tight, giving him a good squeeze hello. "How are you son," Dave asked him.
"Good. Auntie Penelope got me all ready for this case that I will bring to trial," he said with confidence.
"Confidence. Good, I like it. Did she tell you about the two young ladies we have with us today?"
"Briefly," Jack said.
"I will fill you in then, but as we walk to the round room where everyone is waiting," Dave said and they both nodded and went with him. "The biggest thing you need to understand is they both look like they are about six. Mackenzie is twenty two and Hazel is nineteen. I promise you, they look like very little girls. It's a very fine line. You're going to have to balance in your head, speaking to them as scared victims, which they are, as opposed to terrified children, which is what they look like."
"You're making this sound very difficult," Jack said skeptically.
"You're good at your job, you will be fine. The rest of the team is there to help you too," Dave assured him. "Just remember two things. One, Hazel calls Will and JJ, Daddy and Mama, you're just going to have to go with it when you hear it," Dave said.
"The first time I heard it, it was odd," Penelope said.
"Second, just be gentle, but don't dumb it down. They only look six and under, but they are legally grown adults."
"Well, here we go then," Jack sighed and he entered the round room with everyone else.
"And here they are now," Emily smiled. "Girls, you both know Dave and Penelope. Can you guess who is with them?" she asked.
"Turn-ey," Mackenzie supplied.
"That is correct. This is the attorney that will go to trial on your behalf. His name is Jack. Jack, let me introduce you to all our guests. We have Wyatt, Victoria, and Mackenzie Lansing. Bill and Kat Duncan, and Hazel Corklin," Emily said.
"No Core-lyn. Mama name," she pouted. It was the most she'd spoken up for herself in the past several days, so Emily was trying to honor that but JJ beat her to the punch.
"Hey, hey, calm down please," JJ said kindly. "Your legal last name is Corklin, and that is okay. Do you even know my last name?" JJ asked kindly.
"Daddy saids Joe," she tried.
"Yes, my last name is Jareau. We can talk about your name and what you want to do with it later. Right now, we're going to listen to what Jack has to say and listen to all his instructions and follow that. Understand?" JJ questioned and Hazel nodded, but still pouted. "Thank you," JJ told her.
JJ then nodded at Jack and took a seat so he was across from the two most important people in the room and could look at them easily. "First, my name is Jack as Emily said and you need to know what my job is. My job is to go with you to the identification room. Have you see that?" he asked and Mackenzie raised her hand.
"Aunt Kat showed us," she told him.
"Good, I'm glad she did. That was very good practice," Jack smiled. "So we're going to go together and one at a time, you're going to watch the men come in and tell me what number they are standing beneath."
"You knocks da g'as?" Hazel asked him.
"No, that is going to be someone else's job. My job is to listen to the number you say and watch your reactions and build a strong case so that you do not have to show up in court and testify."
Wyatt kissed the top of Mackenzie's head and spoke gently. "Mr. Jack, can we know what is going to happen when we go into the identification room?" he asked.
"Of course," Jack said.
"Listen, my girls," Wyatt said protectively. "Jack is going to tel us exactly what will happen, so if there are any questions we should ask them when he's finished giving directions." Both girls nodded and zeroed in on Jack.
"First, I will take just one of you into the room. We'll have the men come in. You will tell me who it is. You may not know right away and that is okay. I want you to take your time and be completely sure it's that person. If you still aren't sure, we can get them to say something so you can recognize the voice. When one of you finishes, then we'll take the other, and then you'll be done."
"Dem hear us?" Hazel asked, going to instant panic.
"No Hazel. They can't hear you," Jack said.
"Buh I hears dem?"
"I can answer that," Emily said. "Girls, do you remember during practice I pushed a button on the wall?" Emily asked and they both nodded. They'd said break time into the little box on the wall by the button and then they were done practicing. There is another button on the other side. When we push that button, we can hear them talking, but they cannot hear us. It only works one way."
"Miss Emmy, you stays by da buh-in. Da say one," Mackenzie pleaded.
"Please my love," Wyatt told her softly and kindly.
"Let's ask. Jack, how many people can be in identification with the girls?" Emily asked.
"Well, there can be three adults plus me and one young lady," Jack said choosing his words carefully. "I would say everyone, but it's a very tight space, so we'll limit it to three adults," he said.
They all moved to the hall, just outside the identification room and Jack smiled. "Who would like to go first?" he asked them and Mackenzie bravely raised her hand. Then she moved over to Hazel and gave her a hug.
"I go. I way for you when I done," she told her and Hazel nodded.
"Kenzie, three adults go with you and Mr. Jack, who would you like?" Wyatt asked her and she looked around for a moment. This could get very bad, very quickly, so she decided to play it all cautiously.
"Misser Day?" Mackenzie asked.
"Yes Mackenzie, how can I help you?" Dave smiled at her.
"You s'ay wif Mommy an' Daddy, an' kee-dem say?"
"What about Aunt Kat and Uncle Bill?"
"Dem too," she said.
"I will sit with them and keep them safe, yes," he promised her and she smiled.
"Tank you," she said softly.
"Kenze, who's going in?" Victoria said.
"Miss Tara, Misser Lou, an Miss Emmy," she told her and she reached for Tara. This team was going to keep her extra safe inside and she would show Hazel that she could do this too.
"Am I helping you walk, or would you like me to carry you in?" Tara asked Mackenzie softly.
"Carry p'ease, is ow," she told her rubbing her thighs and Tara nodded. She lifted the young lady into her arms and Mackenzie held on tight.
"Kenze, it's just like practice," Victoria reminded her.
"Es Mommy," Mackenzie said and Tara felt her tense up.
"Hey, breathe with me a minute," Tara coached and Mackenzie did as asked. "Very good, so we're all going to go in the room and this is just like we practiced. You look at the numbers and you tell us who it is. We are all here to keep you safe. Agreed?"
"Es," she said and then hugged Tara tightly, suddenly feeling very scared. She chose all these people because they knew the room. They knew the building. Luke was wearing a gun. Everything felt safe. Even a little safer than being with Wyatt and Victoria, and she knew Dave was keeping them safe. "Miss Emmy? You s'ay buy da buh-in?"
"Yes I will Mackenzie, and I will only press it if you ask me to. I promise you," she assured her and Mackenzie nodded and looked at Tara.
"Eddy," she said softly.
"Come then, we'll have Luke go first to keep us all safe," Tara said and Mackenzie nodded emphatically, going into the room to do her job.
"She picked them, why is she so scared?" Katherine asked softly.
"Because we aren't there. But we also don't have guns. She picked the people who can literally shoot the bad guy if it's needed," Wyatt explained.
"Did we not practice enough?" Dave asked.
"Oh no, we did. She is just nervous, which is to be expected," Wyatt said. "She has faced this unknown for almost a year. This is scary for her."
"Mackenzie," Jack said kindly. "The men are going to come into the room and you just tell me which number. I have to hear you say it. No one else, okay?"
She nodded at him and then hugged Tara tightly, needing that extra comfort. "Miss Tara," she told her as the men rolled into the line for identification. "S'aireds," she said.
"You are being very brave though and I"m very proud of you. Guess what, this is a very safe building though, and we are in a very safe room and you picked some of the best people to help keep you safe further," Tara assured her. "Look, Luke is by the door and Emily is guarding that button, and I have you. You are very safe," Tara assured her.
Mackenzie nodded and the gentlemen were finally in line. "Whenever you are ready Mackenzie," Jack told her.
She bravely turned to look and there, under number three, nearly dead center of the room was her tormentor. She squeaked and held tight to Tara again and Tara simply did her best to calm the very frightened person in her arms. Jack was amazed at how Mackenzie seemed to transform in front of his eyes and he understood why this team was so protective of her. He imagined that Hazel would be the same. Seeing how panic stricken she was, he looked to Luke for help, but didn't say anything loudly. "You can't say the number, but we need her to say something, so she can leave here," Jack whispered.
Luke nodded and stepped in. "Kenzie," he said gently and she looked at him with tear filled eyes. "Kenzie, I promise, we are right here with you and keeping you safe. Do you see the man that was so awful to you?" Luke asked her and she nodded yes, but didn't dare look. "Jack over here, he needs a visual and verbal confirmation. If Tara keeps holding you, will you look at the room for me and tell me the number the man is standing beneath?" he asked her and she looked over at Emily for a moment.
"I am right here Kenzie and I am making sure no one can hear you and you don't have to hear them, unless you need to," Emily promised and Mackenzie turned back to Luke.
"Is Fee," she said softly and Luke smiled at her and pet her face, using the pads of his thumbs to gently wipe away her tears. It was hard not to treat her like a small child, because she was definitely that traumatized and so small for her age that she presented to the world as a terrified six year old.
"Mackenzie, I am so sorry but I have to hear you," Jack told her. "Can you say the number again?"
"Is Fee," she said seriously and she held up three fingers before dissolving into tears and falling into look, who was only inches in front of her.
"Shhh, I gotcha Kenzie, you're okay," he promised her and she hung on tightly.
"Jack, do you have everything?" Emily asked and he nodded.
"Yes Ma'am," he said and she rolled her eyes but nodded.
"Luke, Tara, take Kenzie back to her family please," Emily said and they went off, leaving Jack and Emily alone for a moment.
"That was intense," he said.
"I imagine that Hazel's turn will not go much smoother," Emily said.
"Well while I have the chance, I have to tell you, because I didn't before. I miss my Aunt Em, and I'm glad I still get to call you that," he said giving her a quick hug.
"I love you too," she smiled at him once the hug broke.
"Dad always said you saved me from Scratch," Jack said.
"I told you. I love you. I will not betray you," she said.
"Why I never called you Mom is beyond me," he sighed.
"Aunt Em, that's what you were meant to have. That is what you have. No go over there, so Hazel doesn't see. She's already going to be overwhelmed as it is," she scolded playfully and Jack went back to his spot by the door and Emily shot him a look. "And if you call me Ma'am again," she threatened him.
"I'm sorry," he said holding his hands up in defense.
"Hazel my dear it's your turn, who do you want? You get three adults and we can switch out Emily if we need to," Dave told her and she thought for a moment.
"Mama?"
"Yes baby?"
"Emmy s'ay in?" she asked.
"She can, but if you want a different adult that's okay," JJ assured her.
"Um, no, Mama, Daddy, Emmy," she said seriously and then she looked at Dave. "You tech dem?" she asked pointing to everyone else.
"Always," he smiled.
"Kays, dat," she said and she took a few deep breaths. "Mama, Daddy, Emmy," she said and she said it softly, under her breath, over and over again, as they walked into the room where Jack and Emily were waiting.
The men filed out and were lead back in a second time and once again Hollis Matten was placed under number three and as soon as Hazel saw him, she gasped and wet herself out of pure fright. "Emily," JJ said softly and with that simply word and look for help, Hazel burst into hysterical sobs, gasping for breath. That man was right there. Just looking at him made her body hurt and she finally collapsed against Will. "DADDY!" she wailed.
"Shhh, I'm right here Hazel," he assured her and she reached for him, holding on tightly and he looked at JJ. "We have clothes here for us right?" he asked, feeling the wet stain grow against him.
"No, you two need to go home, clean up, be a little family, and you miss, you take some time," Emily said sternly.
"I'm going to hold this over your head the next time you get injured," JJ said seriously.
"Fine, but for right now, I'm in charge. Go home," Emily told them.
"No, I need a number first please," Jack said.
"Hazel my love, come here, shhh, you're okay. Daddy has you," Will assured her and took her closer to Jack. "Hazel my love, tell Jack, which man it is please and then we can go home," he told her.
"Mama," she cried and JJ turned around.
"I'm coming baby, it's okay," JJ said and she took Emily's hand, squeezing it tightly. "I'm fine, I swear."
"I know you are. Go home," Emily said returning the squeeze.
"Fee," Hazel told Jack.
"Thank you Hazel. You are free to go," Jack told her and with that, Will kept Hazel close and he and JJ left the identification room.
"Hay-za!" Mackenzie said, her voice full of panic.
"Shhh, Kenze, it's okay baby, not so fast. Let's give Hazel a minute to breathe," Wyatt said kindly.
"Miss JJ, hers kay?" Mackenzie asked with worry.
"She is okay Kenzie, I promise. She's just scared and that's okay. What you both just did is very scary and I'm very proud of both of you," JJ smiled. "You know what? I talked to Mommy and Daddy before, and we set up a little dinner to have. Will and Hazel and I will come to your house for dinner this weekend, and we'll just have a nice time together and you and Hazel can hang out a bit, okay?"
Mackenzie agreed and then looked at Hazel. "Hay-za. You say now. You has good Mom and Dad. For ree-zz. Ikes me," she said, still hiccuping from being so upset earlier.
"There is an entire team of people who will help to keep you both safe from now on," Will smiled and everyone else nodded.
"Kenz. You ready to go home?" Wyatt asked her.
"Unca Bill too?" She asked.
"Uncle Bill and Aunt Kat are going to there house for a bit and then they will come over for dinner. They are also going to join us when Miss JJ and Mister Will and Hazel come to dinner. It's very convenient that they live just behind us," he smiled.
"Yes it is," Luke said under his breath, giving JJ a look and she shook her head and just smiled. After several goodbyes the Lansings and Duncans left. Everyone hung around until Jack and Emily emerged and Jack went to give JJ a proper hug.
"Not the best idea," she said stopping him. He looked at her shirt and saw the giant wet stain on her belly and thought for a moment. He took off his jacket, put it between them and hugged her tight.
"I'm not missing a hug from Aunt JJ," he told her.
"Tell Dad we said hi," she said returning the hug and with that Emily emerged and looked at her team.
"We all deserve a night off. Everyone go home," she told them.
"I think that is a very good idea. Everyone go home, get dressed, relax and you're welcome to my house. I'm cooking," Rossi said. By now Hazel was calm, so getting her to agree to things was probably easier. "Hazel my dear? Does that sound good? My house for dinner?" Dave asked.
"Mama?" she asked him.
"Everybody. Mama, Daddy, all of us. My house for dinner and since Luke has been away for a while, he can even bring his dogs," Dave said and everyone agreed. They all scattered about their business, to go and meet Dave at his house for dinner later that afternoon.
JJ took Hazel back in her arms at Hazel's request and they slowly went to the elevator. JJ stood in front of it, swaying slowly while rubbing Hazel's back and assuring her, she was safe and that the nightmare was now officially over.
"Mia," Will said as they walked to the car. "I think she's out," he said and JJ nodded her agreement. JJ got in the car, with Hazel in her arms and Will buckled them both in before stepping back slightly and kissing his wife. "What would you like to do for the weekend?" he asked her.
"One family dinner at a time," she said and he smiled and kissed her again, before getting into the driver's seat and heading for home.
"Mama," Hazel whimpered softly.
"Mama is right here Hazel. You're safe," JJ said and Will smiled from the front seat.
"Mia," he said gently. "Through the winds of change, I found you. I think the winds are blowing again," he said.
"Are you in it forever?" she asked him playfully and he smiled.
"Without question."
"Good. Me too."